But listening as a manager is just as important. Listening is your key to finding out what makes your employees excited to come to work—or what is pushing them out the door. Listening reveals the truth behind your employees’ workloads, as well as what you can do to help them succeed.

It can be tempting to get stuck in the mindset of, “Well, if my employee has an issue, he or she should come tell me directly.” But—understandably—there are certain things that employees might not feel comfortable coming right out and telling you. For the sake of protecting their jobs and proving their worth, they’ll keep some of their struggles quiet.

So, I find it’s better to proactively listen to what your employees are saying—even if it involves a little detective work—so you can get to the bottom of it and better manage your team. Here are some key issues to listen for.

1. “I’m Bored”

It’s a risky move to come right out and tell your boss that you’re bored—at least, that’s how it can seem to employees who are worried about being marked for the next round of layoffs for not being a top-contributing employee.

But employees who don’t have enough work or who aren’t being challenged can bring down the productivity and attitude of your entire group. Plus, bored employees are often unhappy—and consequently, are looking elsewhere to advance their career.

Listen for It

Bored employees are often the ones asking for more work. They want to know if there’s anything you—or anyone else on the team—needs help with. They’re not just trying to suck up or get in your good graces; they’re desperate for something to do. On the lightly more direct (and surly) side, they may just announce, “I don’t know what I’m supposed to be doing.”

Also listen for the mutters of, “I’ve done this all before,” or “I’ve been doing this for so long, I couldn’t mess up if I tried.” This will clue you in that your employees need more challenges and opportunities to stretch their skills.

Generally, your employees want you to know that they’re fully capable of making smart decisions and dealing with the tough stuff. So when something isn’t going according to plan—like a big sale that’s clearly going downhill or a client situation that’s about to explode—they may not be completely upfront about the situation with you, for fear of coming across as incompetent. But, that can often lead to escalated situations that put you both in a tough spot.